Vickie Jo Mills pleads guilty to eyedrop poisoning

Mills placed Visine eyedrops in her longtime boyfriend's drinking water at least 10 times over the past three years.

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By From Staff Reports

Waynesboro Record Herald - Waynesboro, PA

By From Staff Reports

Posted Oct. 20, 2012 at 8:00 AM

By From Staff Reports

Posted Oct. 20, 2012 at 8:00 AM

A McConnellsburg woman admitted in Fulton County Court Tuesday to poisoning her longtime boyfriend by placing Visine eyedrops in his drinking water at least 10 times over the past three years.

Vickie Jo Mills, 33, who is currently residing at Gerald Circle in Ayr Township, and formerly of 18250 Great Cove Road, waived her formal arraignment on Tuesday, Oct. 16, and entered a guilty plea to one count of aggravated assault by attempting serious bodily injury, admitting she tainted Thurman Edgar Nesbitt III’s water with the eyedrops because she “wanted him to pay more attention to her.” Her plea was entered before Fulton County Court of Common Pleas Judge Shawn Meyers.

Mills faced 10 counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment in the case. The remaining charges will be dismissed with prejudice, which means the charges can never be filed again and the case is considered closed.

Mills now faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. She is currently free on bail.

The Fulton County Probation Department is slated to complete an investigation in connection with the case. Their findings will be reviewed during a sentencing hearing scheduled for Dec. 11.

The investigation

Pennsylvania State Police previously reported Nesbitt’s physician Dr. Harry Johnston alerted police of the poisoning in July after Nesbitt, 45, was treated several times for recurring symptoms of severe nausea, vomiting, blood pressure fluctuation and trouble breathing between June 1, 2009, and August 2012.

Nesbitt had a blood test taken which revealed very high levels of Tetrahydrozoline — a decongestant found in eyedrops like Visine that reduces eye redness. Nesbitt’s blood results indicated a level of 49 nanograms per milliliter of Tetrahydrozoline, which medical experts described as “an extremely high level,” according to an affidavit of probable cause filed with Magisterial District Judge Wendy Mellott.

Mills told police she did not intend to kill Nesbitt, but claimed she wanted more attention from him, according to the affidavit.

National attention

National media outlets featured the story after it was reported locally.

In an August ABC News report, eyedrop poisoning cases are not uncommon. Nearly 15,000 cases of eyedrop poisonings are reported in the United States each year, with many of the reported cases involving women seeking revenge.